Lot Essay
Willhelm Leibl played an important role in the revival of interest in printmaking in late 19th century Germany. Along with his contemporary Adloph von Menzel, Leibl was a painter who turned his attention briefly to printmaking; between 1873 and 1877, he produced nineteen etchings. Although his output was not large, Leibl helped to pave the way for artists such as Max Liebermann and Max Klinger who would explore the medium more deeply.